A Car Ride Home

F R A T E L L O

P r e v i o u s l y . . .

"Hey, hey, look at me," Lilly asked, and he did. "Everything's going to be okay. You're not going into battle. You're going to see your family, and no matter what you are loved, there is proof standing beside you," she added, nudging him.

"Did you just say, you love me?" Al asked.

"Not me. Brody," she replied, smiling at the dog sitting beside him. They both laughed at the pup.

As they we heading towards the baggage claim, Al pulled Lilly to his side, and whispered, "For the record, I love you too." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, before retrieving their luggage from the belt.

He said it, Lilly knew her face was beet red, but she couldn't stop it. He loves her, and she loves him. She needs to tell him. Really tell him, but the moment is gone.

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Lilly watched Al as they sat in the back of the taxi, his face did well to conceal the silent storm rescinding inside of him. It's no wonder she hadn't seen it. Every so often his jaw would clench, before just as quickly releasing. His blue eyes that have held her attention time and time again were unfocused, as though seeing only the possibilities of what is to come, instead of the torn up headrest in front of him. Lilly wanted desperately to continue whispering how it would be okay, for she was sure it would be, but she didn't want to minimize his own feelings and concerns. She's not a professional she just wants him to be happy.

Brody wiggled on in between them as the taxi continued, the heater working full, as light music flowed through the silent air around them.

"Can you tell me about them?" Lilly asked, not needing to replace the pronoun for Al to know, who she was talking about.

Al's eyes focused, as he was brought back to the moving taxi, and the woman beside him. He rubbed his chin, feeling the light stubble. "You are going to love them. Joey is-was the mischievous little brother you probably saw on TV shows. He use to do all sorts of things in attempts to get me in trouble. He could push all of my buttons, but he has a kind heart, and a good head on his shoulders. And my mama, her name is Maria. She's a lot like you; both strong and beautiful. When we were growing up Joey and I would get into all sorts of trouble, but she didn't believe in spanking us, so she use to grab the bit of skin under our chin. Oh, Santo Cielo! that hurt so bad," he chuckled.

"Hey, we're here," the taxi driver spoke up to us. Al turned to see the green trimming of his home. The worn out door, the crackled white paint on the garage, the two large trees papa planted for Joey and Al before he passed. It's all here. It's the exact same. There is a fresh layer of snow covering the front lawn and driveway.

"It's beautiful," Lilly whispers beside him.

"I'm home," Al replies with more emotion than he had intended.

They both exit the car the driver having already taken their bags out for them. Al turned to pay the man, before they both took their bags and walked up the small drive to the front door. Al moved to ring the bell, and a second after it went off, Joey answered the door.

A man with light brown hair, and grey blue eyes yanked open the door. He had a smile wider than a child at Disneyland, and his height just surpassed Al's. The man jumped on top of Al, wrapping his arms tightly around him, and squeezing the life out of him. Al chuckled holding the man, Lilly guessed was Joey. "Mio fratello! Mi sei mancato!" Joey said over, and over. Lilly noticed that the smile Joey had was perfectly mirrored on Al's face, and she felt tears fall down her face at the love the brothers shared still for one another. Al had nothing to fear.

Al clung to his brother as though he was a lifeline and Al was sinking. He smiled, but he felt the need to crumble. He hadn't been expecting such a greeting. Although, this was a less dramatic way Joey use to hug him, when he was younger, all the time. Al returned the sentiment his brother gave him, and when they finally decided it was enough the two let go.

"Scusa, there is a beautiful creature beside Alessandro, and yet and went for you first," Joey jokingly smacked his head. "I'm sorry. You must be Lilly," he smiled. "I'm Joey," he added, before bending down to scoop Lilly into a big hug.

The hug had taken Lilly by surprise, but it was a shock she could easily get use to. The hug was warm and welcoming, as though Joey had known her all her life instead of all of three seconds. "It's nice to meet you, Joey."

Joey smiled, before wiping the tears from her eyes. "These better be happy tears. I will not be having crying on the porch." Lilly nodded. "Good. Now, who is this little guy." Joey asked, bending down to pet Brody. "What a good boy," he cooed.

"Joey, quit the intros till we get inside. It's cold," Al shivered.

"Alessandro, I forgot you were living the warm life in the desert. Come on, mama's in the kitchen," Joey added, before helping us into the house.

"Joey, did your friends have a nice trip?" A woman called from somewhere in the house, her voice seemed distant.

"You didn't tell her?" Al asked, his voice holding irritation and just a hint of fear.

Joey gave, Al a cheeky smile, "I wanted you to be a surprise for her, and her for you. Merry Christmas, bro!" He said to Al, before calling, "Yes, they had an excellent trip, come say hi!"

"I'm a mess. I've been cooking all day. You didn't not cut enough onions, I swear," Maria spoke, her accent was more prominent and Lilly her heard muttering in Italian as she drew near.

Al could tell by the sound of her feet hitting the wood floor that she was almost to them. When she stepped into the living room her, head was down, while she wiped her hands off on her apron that was perfectly tied in place. Then, she looked up and her eyes landed on her son. "Alessandro," she cried.

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T o    b e    c o n t i n u e d . . .